Senate 48

SENATE RESOLUTION 48

(By Senators Smith (Mr. President), Taylor, Azinger, Barnhart, Barrett, Barlett, Chapman, Charnock, Clements, Deeds, Fuller, Garcia, Grady, Hamilton, Hart, Helton, Jeffries, Martin, M. Maynard, Z. Maynard, Morris, Oliverio, Phillips, Queen, Roberts, Rose, Rucker, Takubo, Tarr, Thorne, Weld, Willis, Woelfel and Woodrum)

[Introduced February 23, 2026]

Memorializing the life of the Honorable Sarah Abigail (Mullennex) Minear, wife, deacon, elder, community leader, philanthropist, former member of the West Virginia Senate, statesman, and dedicated public servant.

Whereas, The Honorable Sarah Abigail (Mullennex) Minear was born in Parsons, West Virginia, on August 11, 1941, daughter of the late John J. Mullennex Sr., and Ruth A. Swartz Mullennex; and

Whereas, The Honorable Sarah Abigail (Mullennex) Minear graduated from Parsons High School and attended Fairmont State College, West Virginia Business College, and West Virginia University; and

Whereas, The Honorable Sarah Abigail (Mullennex) Minear’s Christian faith called her to help others within her community and throughout the State of West Virginia. She served as a Deacon and Elder within the church and served on several committees for Parsons Presbyterian Church; and

Whereas, The Honorable Sarah Abigail (Mullennex) Minear served as an active member and officer of River City Garden Club, Tucker County Arts Council, Tucker County Chamber of Commerce board, WV Chamber of Commerce, Mon Valley Tri-State Network, charter member of the Tucker County Development Authority and Allegheny Front Regional Development Authority, Tucker County Republican Executive Committee and WV State Republican Committee, Tucker County Farm Bureau, and the West Virginia Forestry Association; and

Whereas, The Honorable Sarah Abigail (Mullennex) Minear was the founding president of the Tucker Community Foundation and served in that capacity from December 1988 until December 1994. She also was the founding president of the West Virginia Grantmakers Association (now Philanthropy West Virginia) serving as president from May 1992 through December 1995; and

Whereas, The Honorable Sarah Abigail (Mullennex) Minear was elected to the West Virginia State Senate November 4, 1994, where she proudly served for 12 years as State Senator from the 14th Senatorial District serving seven counties. Senator Minear was the first woman elected to serve from this district. Sarah served on Senate Committees including Finance, Banking and Insurance, Economic Development, Government Organization, Interstate Cooperation, Natural Resources, Forest Management Review, Joint Committee on Government Operations, and the Legislative Rule-Making Review Committee; and

Whereas, The Honorable Sarah Abigail (Mullennex) Minear was a leader in her community and continued to hold several leadership positions on various boards including Chair of the Monongalia General Hospital Board of Directors, Vice President of Adaland Mansion, Inc. in Barbour County, as well as serving on the Board of Cortland Acres Foundation and the Board of Cortland Acres Nursing Home in Tucker County; and

Whereas, The Honorable Sarah Abigail (Mullennex) Minear was a member of the Parsons High School Tri-HI-Y, a lifelong volunteer and supporter of Ohio-West Virginia YMCA (now Youth Leadership Association) including service on the board and as president of the board. Sarah was recognized with the 70th Anniversary Golden Horseshoe Award in 2010 by Camp Horseshoe in recognition for giving thousands of children and teenagers the opportunity to attend Horseshoe through her tireless efforts to increase Horseshoe’s endowment, annual support, improve facilities, and strengthened program; and

Whereas, Sadly, the Honorable Sarah Abigail (Mullennex) Minear passed away on August 26, 2025, bringing an end to a life devoted to faith and public service, and leaving behind a grateful community, state, and a host of family and friends, all of whom will miss her dearly; and

Whereas, It is fitting that we pay tribute to the life and legacy of the Honorable Sarah Abigail (Mullennex) Minear, a woman whose contributions to the State of West Virginia will be felt by many generations to come, and whose spirit will resound throughout the hills of West Virginia forever; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate:

That the Senate hereby memorializes the life of the Honorable Sarah Abigail (Mullennex) Minear, wife, deacon, elder, community leader, philanthropist, former member of the West Virginia Senate, statesman, and dedicated public servant; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Senate extends its sympathies to the family of the Honorable Sarah Abigail (Mullennex) Minear on her passing; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Clerk is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the family and friends of the Honorable Sarah Abigail (Mullennex) Minear.